Chapter 153: War Game!
Chapter 153: War Game!
The next day, no one went to the dungeon.
Everyone gathered at their home, bar, or center of the city, waiting for the War Game that was about to begin at noon.
Apollo Familia versus Hestia Familia.
The Apollo Familia was quite famous, and it was a mid-size Familia, but the Hestia Familia was nothing but a small Familia with only one member.
The victor of this War Game was obvious, but as this activity was rare and it was quite hard to search for entertainment in this world except for sex, everyone decided to take a break to watch the fun that was about to happen.
Whether it was gods, goddesses, or all who lived on the Orario, they stood, watching the rare event that was about to unfold before them.
"Isao-kun..."
While the Hostess of Fertility usually opened at night, they decided to open at noon as there were many people who came to watch the War Game while drinking and eating. Still, those waitresses couldn't focus as the one that they would watch to accompany their fun was nothing but the torment of a single young man facing hundreds of people.
If they didn't know Isao, they would be like them, but they knew him well, and they even had dinner at his place last night. While they wanted to cheer on him, sending him off, they couldn't see him as Isao had already left so early.
Syr was worried, but there was nothing she could do.
"Where is he?"
"He is going to the guild."
"Guild? Why?"
"You will know it soon."
Hestia showed a mysterious smile, which made them strange and curious, but no matter what, they had to watch this War Game.
On the other hand, Loki Familia understood why Isao, the young man they had seen the day before, told them that they would understand why he had worked so hard. When they returned last night, Loki, their goddess, told them about Isao, and they knew that it was him. As they shared their story, it led to how Apollo Familia would fight against a minor, small Familia known as Hestia Familia, which was a Familia that Isao was part of.
"Fighting hundreds of people alone?" Tione's lips twitched.
"He is asking for death." Gareth sighed helplessly.
"Really? I don't think so." Finn rubbed his chin and said.
"You think that he can win, Finn?" Riveria asked curiously.
Or rather, except for Finn, no one thought that Isao could win, especially when he was just a Level 1 adventurer.
Nevertheless, Ais' eyes were focused on Finn, waiting for his answer.
"Did you forget how he suddenly disappeared from all of us? Even if we, the Level 6 adventurer, can't find him, how can a mid-size Familia search for him?"
"...if you say that way..."
Somehow, they couldn't refute Finn's words, but—
"It's just a trick." Bete snorted. "A weakling is a weakling." He didn't change his opinion since as long as Isao was just a Level 1 adventurer, this fact wouldn't change no matter what.
"Bete, why do you hate him so much?!" Tiona looked at Bete angrily. She thought that she had found her one, but this bastard messed up many things!
"You Amazoness slut!"
"I am not a slut!" Tiona snarled, then rebuked. "But I am much better than you, a virgin dog!"
"Do you want to take it outside, you bitch?!"
"Who is afraid?! Let's fight!"
"Enough!" Finn raised his voice, causing the two to shut their mouths, but then he sighed helplessly, wondering why Bete often caused trouble. Yes, he knew about Bete's past, and he also understood why Bete made everyone edge and angry toward him, but then again, not everyone was going to pamper such a baby who got angry at everyone.
Frankly, if this person got angry at Bete, then it was all fine, but if it spread to the Loki Familia, then...
"What's wrong, Finn?" Riveria noticed Finn's expression kept changing.
"No, it's fine." Finn shook his head since, as Bete said before, Isao was just a Level 1 adventurer, but why did he feel something strange from that young man?
As everyone stopped talking and focused on the War Game that was about to start, Aiz also looked away, focusing her attention on the match where the young man, who was as weak as a fragile branch, would fight against hundreds of people.
"Good afternoon, everyone! At last, it's the day of the War Game! I am your MC, Ibri Achaa!"
A man with brown skin and goggles said excitedly. "My title is "Fire Inferno Flame!" Glad to be here. And commentary will be provided by my Familia's God, Ganesha-sama!"
A muscular man with an elephant mask stood by the side of Ibri with a bright smile.
"Ganesha-sama, say something to the crowd!"
"I am Ganesha!"
"And, there you have it, folks."
As the two made the comedic commentary, Eina sighed helplessly.
"It still surprised me that he has grown like that, Eina."
A cute woman with short pink hair, Misha, looked at Eina with surprise. After all, before the start of the War Game, Isao went to the guild to announce his improvement.
"Yes, he is amazing, Misha." Eina nodded and blushed when she thought about their exchange yesterday. At the same time, she felt relief when she saw Isao's spirit this morning. She could see that he was ready, and she was there to support and pray for him.
"Yes, but... I wonder whether there is something that he can do against this War Game." Misha sighed helplessly since she didn't doubt that Isao could become a great adventurer, and as long as given a time, an Apollo Familia was nothing, but now?
Eina didn't say anything since whatever she said was going to be meaningless, so she didn't say anything and just let the result answer how this War Game was going to unfold.
On the other hand, on the top of the tower of Babel, many deities gathered together, waiting for the War Game to start soon.
"Yo, shorty, are you ready?" Loki looked at her rival, who was all solemn.
"Loki," Hephaestus glanced at Loki with an unkind gaze.
Loki raised her hands as if showing her surrender. "Don't look at me like that, Pai-chan." Still, she came closer to Hephaestus and asked in a whisper, "Still, do you sleep with Hestia's boy?"
"..." Hestia.
Hephaestus looked at Loki and said, "You don't need to come to my blacksmith later when your children are in need of weapons, equipment, or repairs. Moreover, I want you to repay your debt today."
"No, no! Forgive me, Pai-chan! Don't do that! Forgive me!"
There was no trace of dignity on Loki's face, and she kept apologizing like a beggar. If it were others, she might not care, but Hephaestus was different as Hephaestus Familia was one of the greatest blacksmiths Familia on the Orario. As an expedition type of Familia, if Loki was unable to go to Hephaestus's Familia, then it would hurt her Familia a lot. More importantly, she had a lot of debts, especially when, on the last expedition, her children's equipment was damaged and even melted!
So, even if she acted without dignity, she had to do it.
"Stop hugging me and take advantage of me."
Hephaestus looked at Loki helplessly.
"I see... I see... your body is only for your lover, huh? I guess he is so great on the bed that you love him so much," Loki became even more curious with Isao.
"...." Hestia.
"No, Hestia, listen to me...." Hephaestus glared angrily at Loki, then apologized to Hestia.
Hestia cried, feeling hurt by her best friend, who was unable to hold her urge toward her children.
Still, their antics quickly stopped when the number one villain was in the eyes of Hestia and Hephaestus.
"Hestia..."
Apollo looked at Hestia with a bright smile. "Have you said goodbye to Isao-kyun~?"
"...he isn't yours, Apollo. And don't underestimate him, or your Familia will be in sorry," Hestia looked at Apollo calmly.
"Fufufu..." Apollo chuckled with a lewd smile on his face. "I know that he is a naughty boy~! You don't have to worry; my boys and I are going to educate him through when Isao-kyun has become part of our Familia~!" Then, suddenly, his expression became serious, and he said, "Moreover, I want you to leave Orario. No, the lower world."
"Hmph."
Hearing those words, Hestia was no longer hesitant and was going to give hell to Apollo.
Apollo smiled, then walked away.
Loki looked at Apollo with doubt, then looked at Hestia. "He sure is unlucky to get that homo's attention."
"...he is so handsome after all." Hestia sighed helplessly.
"Really? Is he so handsome?" Loki asked curiously. "Is he like my princess?"
"Who is your princess?" Hestia looked at Loki in doubt.
"You stupid?! How could you not know my princess?!"
Watching the two bicker with each other, Hephaestus prayed that Isao would be okay.
Nevertheless, when all the deities were present, and it was time for the War Game, the arbitrator of this War Game, Hermes, was told to prepare by the captain of his Familia, Asfi Al Andromeda.
"Hermes-sama, it's the time."
The beautiful woman with short blue hair and glasses whispered.
"Okay." Hermes nodded, then said, "Ouranos, give me permission to use my power!"
"Permission granted."
Suddenly, an old and dignified voice sounded, giving permission to Hermes to use his power.
At that moment, in many places in Orario, mirror-like screens appeared mid-air.
Deities might not be able to use their power, known as Arcanum, in the lower world, but they were allowed to use it on certain occasions, such as in the War Game.
On those screens, everyone could see hundreds of members of the Apollo Familia gathered together on the open field like an army, putting pressure on everyone who saw them. Even if they were far away, they felt their hearts tighten.
"Hahaha..." Apollo laughed when he saw his Familia. "Look, this is my Familia! My proud children that I have picked up carefully!"
Hestia was annoyed, but then her eyes shone when she saw Isao.
While the hundreds of members of Apollo Familia made everyone feel nervous, Isao's appearance made them stop breathing.
Isao wore black slacks with suspenders and boots, along with a short-sleeve black undershirt, which showed the silhouette of his masculine and vigorous body. Strong and heroic. As his hair was slicked back, he was like a young general who was ready to face an impossible battle. There was no trace of fear on his face; all calm, facing all of those hundreds of people.
Those deities and all the people who saw him were all in silence, staring at him.
"Hey, Hestia, is that your child?"
Suddenly, a goddess with honey-colored wavy hair came closer to Hestia and asked curiously.
"..."
Hestia looked at Demeter, grumbling inwardly as she noticed the cute blush on her cheeks.
"Ha... Ha... Ha..."
After a moment of stupor, gazing into an attractive young man, many became in heat, and all of them then sighed inwardly, watching Apollo, who was breathing hard like a dog in heat.
"So handsome!" Tiona screamed with heavy breath as she looked at Isao on the screen.
"...Tiona, go sit down." Finn was speechless.
Yet, no one denied Tiona since his style was practical, simple, and manly.
Loki glanced at Isao in silence for a while, watching him, holding a saber and poleaxe and then two similar weapons on his suspender. Nevertheless, she understood why Apollo was so crazy about this young man, and even if Hestia was her rival, she felt sorry for this shorty as this shorty didn't have the power to protect this young man.
"Oh! Wait a moment! I have received a message that Iinuma Isao has become a Level 2 adventurer! In other words, in just two weeks of his stay in this Orario, his level has risen! He has broken the record of the Sword Princess!"
"Huh?"
When Ibri, the MC, made the announcement, everyone was surprised.
"Level 2 in two weeks?"
"Amazing!"
"How did he do that?"
When those words were announced, those deities who were on Babel looked at Hestia at the same time.
"Did you do something to him, Shorty?" Loki asked rudely.
"No, it was all his efforts. Your children should have met him in the dungeon, right? They should tell you how he spent six days in the dungeon without eating, drinking, and sleeping to fight all the time."
Hestia took a deep breath and said, "That's why he is going to win."
"Well, it's amazing that he has become Level 2, but to win..."
No one doubted Hestia since they knew Hestia's personality well, and it was unlikely that she would use her power to help Isao level up.
Still, even if Isao had become a Level 2, could he win hundreds of people?
Only all of them felt strange when they heard the words that came out from Isao for the first time.
"Won't you all surrender?"
"...." Everyone.